Monthly Archives: September 2014

Entering the 2014 playoffs, the Oakland Athletics should be shaking in their cleats. The Royals have nothing to lose, and Big Game James will at least match lester through 7. Then, all of you reading this post knows what comes out of the Royal’s ‘pen, and the A’s can’t score. I like the Royals to win this game simply because of their ability to play small ball and push a run across in a tight game. Unless Adam Dunn struts into postseason folklore for his first postseason game, Kansas City advances, with momentum. This, of course, begs the question, did Billy Beane push too hard this year? A GM notoriously known for buying low and getting the most value for the franchise’s money, gambled to acquire an old pal. As of now, it looks like that was a losing bet, and Beane removing Cespedes from the highest scoring offense in baseball, depleted it to merely average. I am interested to see how Shields attacks a lineup that has struggling hitters and big time strikeout candidates (Moss, Dunn).

In the other dugout, the Royals may just be happy to be here. But, after thumping the Patriots on Monday Night Football, maybe the whole town of KC is feeling some mojo heading into baseball’s post season. But, one game and done may kill all that good Kansas City hangover feeling after muscling through a rack of Sweet and Sassy BBQ Brisket (Sounds good). But mayybeeee, a team that Paul Konerko said reminds him of the 2005 White Sox can use enough small ball, speed, and savvy to string together a few wins.

I think it’s going to be a great game. My prediction is that Lester goes 7 innings strong striking out 6 with 5 base runners allowed. However, 2 of those runs score. Shields goes 7 allowing 1 and the Royals win 3-1 after being able to push across another in the late innings to give their stingy bullpen more support. I like Alex Gordon to have a big hit in this one.

Winning back-to-back Triple-A championships does not mean that a dynasty of sub major league talent is coagulating in Omaha. All it means, in addition to it being a great achievement, is that the Kansas City Royals have supreme organizational depth. While the Royals are on the brink of a playoff berth, something rare for the major league club, the farm system has been flourishing for years. The Omaha Storm Chasers won another Triple-A Championship last night.

The Baltimore Orioles are having an amazing season. They are going to win the AL East; an endeavor that many thought unlikely at the beginning of the year. However, it is remarkable that they will accomplish this feat with minimal contribution from the 2013 MVP candidate, Chris Davis. Today, news broke that Davis would be suspended 25 games, including the first eight of the playoffs for testing positive for amphetamines. As it has become routine, Adderral was quickly the culprit for this positive test to which Davis had “an exemption” to take in 2013 – the year he bursted out with monster power numbers and had a remarkable .336 Batting Average on balls in play.

This season, Davis has walked more, 11.4% of the time, and struck out at about the same rate as last year. Therefore, Davis is begging the question from us all, did his use of a banned substance, a substance that WebMD says can “help to increase the ability to pay attention, concentrate, stay focused, and stop fidgeting,” contribute to his 2013 campaign? Continue reading Chris Davis Suspended→

The key to determining what a future may hold for a top prospect with high hopes such as Joey Gallo, is the players ability to make adjustments and improve in areas of his game where he lacks. Joey Gallo can hit the ball to Saturn… or at least into the windshield of a Saturn at the 2014 Future’s Game 440 feet away. In Rookie and A Ball in 2013, Gallo’s OBP was .338. That number was far too low for a highly touted player in low level ball. However, Gallo’s approach at the plate has matured in 2014. His OBP has increased by 62 percentage points to an even .400. This is a good adjustment made by the young power hitter showing an ability to change.